Course Description
This course will undertake a slow and careful reading of Kant’s magnum opus, The Critique of Pure Reason, which can be seen as his attempt to “save” certain core questions and lines of metaphysical thinking, such as causality, necessity, the unity and intelligibility of the world, and ethics, from the rise of radical empiricism. Kant himself describes his work as a reorientation of our philosophical thinking on par with the Copernican revolution in natural science, which showed that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around.
We will read the text slowly over 30 weeks (3 quarters), occasionally supplementing this on the way with brief excerpts from relevant philosophical commentaries as needed or wanted. The pace will allow us to delve deeply into the issues and concepts in their philosophical context, as well as to think through clarifying applications and examples. The first quarter will tackle Division 1 of the Critique, while the second will complete the Transcendental Dialectic, including Kant’s creative solutions to the Antinomies. In the spring, after reviewing the previous readings and completing the book, we will explore one of Kant’s major stated intentions in his critical project, that of rethinking morality through reason, a task that Kant sees as capable of grounding a new political future, and also for reconcieving religion as helping in this project. With this in mind we will spend the remaining classes reading (or rereading) the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (section 2) and Religion Within the Bounds of Bare Reason in the context of the Critique.
This fall class will begin by briefly situating the Critique in the history of philosophy via 1) an excerpt from Heidegger’s introductory lecture on “”””Modern Mathematical Natural Science and the Emergence of a Critique of Pure Reason,”””” as well as 2) a short overview of Hume’s empiricism (Kant’s direct provocation to begin his critical project), before moving directly to the text in the second class with the accounts of space and time in the Transcendental Aesthetic. The excerpts will be available on canvas; please read the preliminary material for the first class.
Prerequisites:
No prerequisites. Taught by a Basic Program instructor, this course is open to all interested students.
Required Texts
Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, tr. Werner Pluhar, Hackett (unified edition), ISBN 978-0872202573
Frequently Asked Questions
Review common questions about our courses. You can also contact us for more information.
Do we take assessments in these courses?
Graham School non-credit courses are not graded and therefore have no tests. They focus on nourishing a love of learning, allowing you to immerse yourself in topics and discussions you find interesting.
How can I best prepare for class?
Complete any assigned reading and come prepared to participate actively in classroom discussion. While not required, we offer an optional course to prepare students to engage with challenging works: How to Read Classic Texts. While this is presented as an introductory course for the Basic Program, students in other programs or open enrollment courses are also welcome to participate and grow their skills.
Do I have to complete an application?
Applications are not required for our open enrollment courses.
Who is best suited to take a course at the Graham School?
Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in these topics and engaging in deep discovery with others is welcome to take part in this course.
UChicago has a reputation for academic rigor. Will I be able to meaningfully participate in the classroom discussions?
Yes. Our non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors create an inclusive learning environment by encouraging all students to participate, regardless of their academic background.
What happens if I have to miss a class?
Our online classes are recorded and shared with the registered students through the Canvas site for the course. For in-person courses, you can ask a fellow student to take notes for you if you have to miss a session.
What is your withdrawal/cancellation policy?
You can find our withdrawal and cancellation policy with other registration issues here. Most drop or transfer requests can be made through your student account.
Will this course be offered online or in person?
The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course section specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.
What happens if I miss a class?
While our courses are driven by live discussions, we do record the online sessions. If you miss a class, you can watch the recording to catch up. Please note that students may only access recordings for the sections in which they are registered. In-person classes are not recorded.
I can no longer participate in a course I registered for. Can I get a refund?
If you need to drop a course, please email us at graham@learningplatform.support to process your request. When reaching out, please include your full name, the course name and the section. If you made a donation during your course purchase, please confirm if you would like the donation refunded as well.
Courses dropped before the first day of class are eligible for a full refund. Courses dropped after the first class are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. No refund will be issued for courses dropped after the first week of classes.
How do I access my course after registration?
Your course will be available on the Graham Learning Platform three weeks before the start date. You’ll log in using the same credentials you used during registration. If you need help accessing your course, check out our helpful video tutorial.
I have a question about the course registration process, who should I reach out to?
If you have a question about how to register for a course, watch the helpful videos on our registration tips page. You can also email our support team at graham@learningplatform.support. You will receive a response within 24 hours.
Where have Graham School programs been featured?
Graham School programs have received national and international attention, with coverage in Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, The Atlantic, and other leading publications.